Ankle brace with cuff and strap

ABSTRACT

An ankle brace includes a heel stirrup including a base and left and right upright portions. Left and right pivot legs are pivotably connected to the left and right uprights, respectively. A cuff joins the left and right pivot legs. In most preferred embodiments, the rear cuff is flexible.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims priorityfrom Patent Application PCT/US00/03385 filed Feb. 9, 2000, which is acontinuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,884, filed Feb. 18,1999, (Prioritydate of Feb. 18, 1999) and it claims priority from U. S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/283,893 (Ankle Brace with StrapAttachment), filed Apr. 13, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to ankle braces, and, inparticular, to an ankle brace that provides greater comfort and supportthan braces of the prior art.

[0003] Many types of ankle braces are known, including my earlierdesign, described in U.S. Pat. Re. 33,395. That brace provided greaterflexibility and comfort than other braces, because it provided pivots onboth sides of the brace, which enabled the foot to flex forward andbackward while limiting side-to-side motion of the foot relative to theleg in order to protect the injured ankle. That brace had left and rightpivot legs, which were intended to lie along the left and right sides ofthe wearer's leg, and there were straps which wrapped around the leg tohold the pivot legs together. While the straps provide flexibility ofmovement, they also stretch and shift, thereby sacrificing somestructural support.

[0004] Also, in prior art designs, the semi-rigid stirrup encircled thebottom of the foot, interfering with a person's foot spreading out as heput his weight on the foot, thereby causing irritation and pain. If thestirrup were made wide enough to avoid that problem, it would provideless support to the person's ankle and might be too wide to fit into theperson's shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides the desired front-to-backflexibility of the prior art braces, and, in addition, provides improvedstructure so that there is additional structural support preventingside-to-side movement of the ankle.

[0006] In particular, most of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention provide arms, extending from the left and right pivot legs,which are joined together to form a flexible rear cuff. The phrase“flexible rear cuff” means a rear cuff that provides greater flexibilitythan would be provided by joining the arms together to form the cuff asa unitary piece having substantially the same thickness, continuity, andheight as the arms themselves The flexibility may be achieved by cuttingout portions of the unitary rear cuff to make it substantially moreflexible, or by changing the dimensions of a portion of the unitary rearcuff so that it is substantially thinner or shorter than the arms, orboth, thereby creating a substantially more flexible section. Also, ifthe arms are not formed as a unitary piece, the mechanical arrangementby which the arms are joined together to form the cuff may provide theflexibility. For example, in one preferred embodiment, the arms areconnected together by a rivet which permits them to pivot relative toeach other. This pivot connection allows the brace to be adjusted inorder to fit a wide variety of people's foot and leg shapes, resultingin a comfortable brace, while providing more support than prior artdesigns. The arms, pivoted together, limit the range of motion betweenthe pivot legs while providing the desired flexibility so that thewearer can continue to flex and exercise the ankle while the ankle isprotected and supported by the brace. Most of the other embodiments useother mechanisms for providing a controlled, flexible connection betweenthe arms.

[0007] The preferred embodiments of the present invention also provide aheel stirrup and a tongue, extending forward of the heel stirrup. Theheel stirrup surrounds the heel to provide the greatest possiblestability while leaving the bottom of the foot, including the arch, freeto spread out, so that the stirrup does not impinge on the wearer'sfoot.

[0008] The preferred embodiments of the present invention also providean ankle brace with a single strap closure mechanism that provides thewearer easy enhanced structural support, adjustability for ankle size,and ease of use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ankle brace made in accordancewith the present invention, with a wearer's foot shown in phantom;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a side view of the ankle brace of FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a front view of the ankle brace of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the ankle brace of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a top view of the ankle brace of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 6 is the same view as FIG. 1, but with padding added to theinterior of the brace;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a view taken along the section 7-7 of FIG. 6;

[0016]FIG. 8 is a rear view of a second embodiment of an ankle bracemade in accordance with the present invention, with a separate, slottedrear cuff (peeled back to depict how it attaches) which providesflexibility and adjustability;

[0017]FIG. 9 is the same view as in FIG. 8 but with the rear cuffattached at both ends;

[0018]FIG. 10 is a top view of the rear cuff of FIGS. 8 and 9;

[0019]FIG. 11 is a rear view of another embodiment of an ankle bracemade in accordance with the present invention, with an integral, slottedrear cuff which provides flexibility and adjustability;

[0020]FIG. 12 is a partially broken away top view of the left rear cuffportion of FIG. 11;

[0021]FIG. 13 is a partially broken away top view of the right rear cuffportion of FIG. 11;

[0022]FIG. 14 is a rear view of another embodiment of an ankle bracemade in accordance with the present invention, with a separate pivotablerear cuff;

[0023]FIG. 15 is a view taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

[0024]FIG. 16 is a rear view of another embodiment of an ankle bracemade in accordance with the present invention, with a separate flexiblerear cuff;

[0025]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an anklebrace made in accordance with the present invention, with the closurestrap removed;

[0026]FIG. 18 is a side view of the ankle brace of FIG. 17;

[0027]FIG. 19 is a view along the line 19-19 of FIG. 18;

[0028]FIG. 20 is a front view of the ankle brace of FIG. 17;

[0029]FIG. 21 is a back view of the ankle brace of FIG. 17;

[0030]FIG. 22 is a front view, similar to FIG. 20, of another embodimentof an ankle brace made in accordance with the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 23 is a back view of the ankle brace of FIG. 22;

[0032]FIG. 24 is a perspective view of either of the ankle braces ofFIG. 17 or 22, with the closure strap in place;

[0033]FIG. 25 is a broken-away perspective view of the ankle brace ofFIG. 24 before the strap is fed through the slot extension of the leftpivot leg;

[0034]FIG. 26 is the same view as FIG. 25, except that the closure straphas been fed through the slot extension of the left pivot leg inpreparation for tightening the strap onto itself;

[0035]FIG. 27 is a side view of the ankle brace of FIG. 22, with thestrap shown securing the ankle brace to the wearer's leg;

[0036]FIG. 28 is a the same view as FIG. 19, but with the strap in placeas in FIG. 27;

[0037]FIG. 28A is a view identical to that of FIG. 28 except that itshows the closure strap adjusted for use with a larger ankle;

[0038]FIG. 29 is a front view of the brace of FIG. 27; and

[0039]FIG. 30 is a rear view of another embodiment of a brace made inaccordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] FIGS. 1-5 show an ankle brace 10, which is made up of three mainpieces. The first piece is the heel stirrup 12, which is substantiallyU-shaped, and includes a base or bottom portion 14 and left and rightupright portions 16, 18. The upright portions 16, 18 project upwardlyand forwardly from the rear of the base portion 14, which permits themto wrap around the heel, which provides for the greatest support, whilestill locating the pivots 26, 28 adjacent to the ankle, to provide thegreatest comfort and flexibility. The horizontal distance “A” from theaxis of the pivots 26, 28 to the rear of the stirrup 12 preferably is atleast one inch. The horizontal distance “B” from the rear edge of theupright portion 16 at the height of the pivot 26 to the rear edge of thebase 14 preferably is at least 0.75 inches. This location of the uprightportions 16, 18 also prevents the stirrup 12 from interfering with thespreading of the foot. A tongue 20 extends forward from the forward edge14A of the bottom portion 14 of the stirrup 12 to provide additionalsupport, again without interfering with the foot. The entire stirrup 12,including bottom portion 14, upright portions 16, 18, and tongue 20 arepreferably molded or otherwise formed from a single piece of material.It would, of course, be possible to use separate pieces of material andconnect them together to form the stirrup 12, but a single piece ispreferable.

[0041] The second and third pieces are the left and right pivot legs 22,24, which are pivotably connected to the left and right uprights, 16,18, respectively, at the left and right pivot points 26, 28. The pivots26, 28 are formed from bolts, rivets, or other connectors extendingthrough the respective uprights and pivot legs, as shown best in FIG. 3and are located approximately at the location of a wearer's ankle, sothat the brace pivots forward and backward with the person's ankle. Thetwo ankle pivot points 26, 28 preferably are at the same height. Asshown in FIG. 2, the axis of the pivots 26, 28 is directly above theforward edge 14A of the bottom portion 14 of the stirrup 12. Also, asshown in FIG. 3, there preferably are spacers or washers 30 between theconnected uprights and pivot legs to prevent them from rubbing againsteach other as they pivot.

[0042] The left and right pivot legs 22, 24 have rearwardly-projectingarms 32, 34, which overlap each other and are fastened together with abolt, rivet, pin, or other connector to form a rear pivot point 36. Therear pivot point 36 is located along an imaginary vertical planebisecting the brace 10, and its axis of rotation is substantiallyorthogonal to an imaginary vertical plane extending through the twoankle pivots 26, 28. A rear cuff 38 is formed by the tworearwardly-projecting arms 32, 34. The left pivot leg 22 and left arm 32preferably are formed of a single piece of material, and, even if theyare formed of separate pieces, it is preferred that the arm 32 be madeof material at least as rigid as the leg 22 to which it is attached.This is also preferred with respect to the right pivot leg 24 and rightarm 34.

[0043] A strap 40 is fastened at one end to the right pivot leg 24 andincludes a strip of hook-and-loop fastener on its free end, and there isa mating piece of hook-and-loop fastener fixed to the left pivot leg 22,so that a wearer can put the brace on and then wrap the strap 40 aroundthe front of his leg and fasten it to the left pivot leg 22 to hold thebrace 10 on.

[0044] The brace 10 is shown here being used on the wearer's right foot,but the identical brace 10 could also be used on the left foot, as thebrace is essentially symmetrical about a central vertical plane.

[0045]FIGS. 6 and 7 show the brace 10 of FIGS. 1-5 modified by theaddition of padding 50 on the interior surface of the legs 22, 24 andarms 32, 34 of the brace. While these drawings show the use of foampadding, many different types of pads, including air pillows, gel packs,and so forth, may be used.

[0046]FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of a brace 10A, in which theleft and right rearwardly projecting arms 32A, 34A do not quite overlapeach other. Each of the arms 32A, 34A has a plurality of slightlycurved, substantially vertically-oriented slotted openings 52A. Aseparate rear cuff member 38A, which preferably is made of a materialthat is more flexible than the material of the arms 32A, 34A, has aplurality of mating, substantially-vertically-oriented, elongated ridges54A projecting from its inner surface (See FIG. 10). These ridges 54Aare designed to mate with the slotted openings 52A of the left and rightrearwardly projecting arms 32A, 34A. By selecting the slotted openingsinto which the ridges 54A are inserted, the rear cuff 38A provides anadjustable-length bridge between the two pivot legs 22A, 24A. Thisarrangement also allows some flexibility of lateral movement of the legwhen it is braced within the ankle brace 10A, both by movement of theridges 54A along their respective slotted openings 52A, and by flexingthe rear cuff 38A itself. The shorter the length of the ridges 54Arelative to the length of the slotted openings 52A, the more lateralmovement of the leg is allowed, while still not permitting thehorizontal separation between the two pivot legs 22A, 24A to increasesignificantly, thus maintaining the leg secured within the ankle brace10A.

[0047]FIG. 11 shows yet another embodiment of an ankle brace 10B. Inthis embodiment, the left and right rearwardly projecting arms 32B, 34Bdo overlap each other, and one arm 32B has a plurality ofsubstantially-vertically-oriented, arcuate slotted openings 52B, whilethe second arm 34B has a plurality of substantially-vertically-oriented,elongated ridges 54B projecting from its outer surface (See FIGS. 12 and13). As in the case of the previous embodiment of the ankle brace 10A,the ridges 54B are designed to mate with the slotted openings 52B suchthat the rear cuff 38B provides an adjustable-length bridge between thetwo pivot legs 22B, 24B, and also allows some flexibility of lateralmovement of the leg when it is braced within the ankle brace 10B. Thisankle brace embodiment 10B works in a very similar manner to that of theprevious embodiment 10A; namely, the shorter the length of the ridges54B relative to the length of the slotted openings 52B, the more lateralmovement of the leg is allowed while still not permitting the horizontalseparation between the two pivot legs 22B, 24B to increasesignificantly, thus maintaining the leg secured within the ankle brace10B. The width of the cuff is adjusted by selecting the slots 52B intowhich the projections 54B are inserted. As shown in FIG. 11, the cuff isat its narrowest adjustment. To make it wider, only the two outermostprojections 54B will be inserted into the two outermost slots 52B, and,to make it wider still, only the one outermost projection 552B will beinserted into the outermost slot 52B. To adjust the amount of flexurethat is permitted, the manufacturer adjusts the length of theprojections 54B relative to the length of the slots 52B. The greater thedifference between the length of the projections and the length of theslots, the greater the amount o flexure that is permitted.

[0048] It should also be noted in FIG. 10 that the projections have aslight taper along their edges, so they are wider at their outer edgethan at the point where they connect to the base, in order to help holdthem into the slots. This taper is more pronounced in the embodiment ofFIG. 13.

[0049]FIG. 14 depicts yet another embodiment of an ankle brace 10C, madein accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the leftand right rearwardly projecting arms 32C, 34C do not overlap each other.A separate rear cuff member 38C does overlap these arms 32C, 34C. Therear cuff member may be made of a material that is more flexible thanthe material of the arms 32C, 34C, and it is pivotably secured to bothof the projecting arms 32C, 34C via bolts, rivets, pins, or otherconnectors to form two rear pivot points 36C (See FIG. 15). The rearcuff 38C provides a bridge between the two pivot legs 22C, 24C, and itallows some flexibility of lateral movement of the leg.

[0050]FIG. 16 depicts another embodiment of an ankle brace 10D, made inaccordance with the present invention. This embodiment is similar to theprevious embodiment 10C in that the left and right rearwardly projectingarms 32D, 34D do not overlap each other, and a separate rear cuff member38D does overlap these arms 32D, 34D and it is secured to both of theprojecting arms 32D, 34D via bolts, rivets, pins, or other connectors.In this embodiment 10D, the rear cuff member 38D is preferably made froma more flexible material than the pivot legs 22D, 24D, and it is thisflexibility of the material of the rear cuff 38D that allows morelateral movement of the leg than would otherwise be available if thecuff had the same flexibility as the rest of the brace.

[0051] FIGS. 17-21, 28, and 28A show another embodiment of an anklebrace 10E made in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 22, 23,27, and 29 show still another embodiment 10F. FIGS. 24-26 show a strapbeing mounted on either of the embodiments 10E or 10F.

[0052] FIGS. 17-21 show an ankle brace 10E made in accordance with thepresent invention, with the closure strap removed for clarity. The anklebrace 10E includes a substantially U-shaped heel stirrup 112 with abottom portion 114 and left and right upright portions 116, 118, whichproject upwardly and are pivotally connected to left and right pivotlegs 120, 122, respectively. The left and right pivot legs 120, 122 haveleft and right arms 124, 126, which are joined together to form a rearcuff 128. In this embodiment, the rear cuff 128 is a single, continuouspiece and does not provide the flexibility of other embodiments. (In theother embodiment 10F, shown in FIG. 22, the rear cuff is formed of twopieces which are connected together at a pivot 130 as in the case of thefirst embodiment 10 shown in FIG. 1) The two arms 124, 126 areessentially mirror images of each other, and the cuff 128 is symmetricalalong an imaginary axis, forming a generally horseshoe-shaped profilewhich wraps around the back of the wearer's leg as shown in FIG. 17.

[0053] Near the front edge 132 of the left arm 124 is a U-shaped,forwardly-projecting, generally vertical post 134, which is connected atits top and bottom ends to the left arm 124. The central portion of thepost 134 is outwardly spaced from the outer surface of the left leg 120,forming a vertical slot 136 between the post 134 and the outer surfaceof the leg 120, best shown in FIG. 20. A similar post 144 is located inthe same position near the front edge 142 of the right leg 122, defininga similar slotted opening 146. In this preferred embodiment 10E, theposts 134, 144 are integrally molded with the legs 120, 122. However,the ends of the posts 134, 144 may be secured to the legs 120, 122 byother substantially rigid means, such as bolting, riveting, and soforth.

[0054] The outer surface of the legs 120, 122 preferably is recessed inthe area of the posts 134, 144 to help facilitate the passage of a strapthrough the slots 136, 146. The recessed portions of the legs 120, 122forward of the posts 134, 144 are referred to as anterior strips 138,148, and the recessed portions of the legs 120, 122 to the rear of theposts 134, 144 are referred to as posterior strips 140, 150. A narrow,vertical strip of hook Velcro 152 (See FIG. 19) is secured, by anysuitable means such as gluing, to the anterior strip 148 of the rightleg 122.

[0055] A closure strap 154 is shown in FIGS. 24-29. The strap 154 hasfirst and second ends 158A and 158B, and first and second surfaces 156,158. The first surface 156 preferably is a smooth surface, at least forthe portion that is in contact with the wearer's leg. The second surface158 has loop Velcro beginning at the first end 158A and extending forapproximately two-thirds of the length of the strap 154. The remainderof the strap 154 is a hook Velcro, extending all the way to the secondend 158B of the strap 154. The width and thickness of the closure strap154 is such that it can fit through the slots 136, 146 on the arms 126,124 respectively. In this preferred embodiment, the strap isapproximately two inches wide and {fraction (1/16)}-inch thick.

[0056] To use the ankle brace 10E (See FIGS. 24, 25, and 26), the firstend 158A of the strap 154 is fed through the slot 146 on the right leg122 of the brace 10E such that the loop Velcro on the Velcro side 158 ofthe strap 154 engages with the hook Velcro strip 152 on the anteriorstrip of the right leg 124. The strap 154 is then bent around the post144 on the right leg 122 and is extended across the front of the brace10E, until the second end 158B of the strap 154 is fed through the slot136 on the left leg 120, going first along the anterior strip 138, thenthrough the slot 136, and then out past the posterior strip 140, asshown in FIG. 26. The smooth, fabric-like first side 156 of the strap154 faces the wearer's leg. The user then folds the strap 154 over thepost 134 on the left leg 120, and pulls the strap 154 tightly back ontoitself so that the hook Velcro on the second side 158 adjacent thesecond end 158B of the strap 154 engages the loop Velcro on theremainder of the second side 158 of the strap 154. The brace 10E may betightened or loosened by pulling more or less tightly on the second end158B of the strap 154 after the strap 154 has been fed through the slot136 and around the post 134.

[0057]FIG. 28 shows one possible location of the strap 154, with asubstantial portion of the first end 158A extending beyond the hookVelcro narrow strip 152 on the right leg 122. This would be for a personhaving a relatively small diameter ankle. FIG. 28A shows anotherpossible location of the same strap 154, for use with a larger ankle. Inthis case, the end 158A does not extend beyond the Velcro strip 152. Theconnection point between the strap 514 and the strip 152 may be adjustedto effectively lengthen or shorten the strap 154.

[0058] Since the posts 134, 144 are fixed securely at both ends to thebody of the ankle brace 10E and are preferably made of the same orsimilar material to the rest of the brace, they provide substantialrigidity at both ends of the strap 154, which helps provide a secure fitbetween the person's leg and the ankle brace 10E.

[0059] The strap 154 is fed through the slots and around the posts 134,144 of the other ankle brace 10F in the same manner as in the anklebrace 10E. The only difference is that the rear cuff of the second brace10F includes a pivot 130.

[0060]FIG. 30 shows another alternate embodiment of a brace made inaccordance with the present invention. In this case, the legs 22E and24E are pivotably connected to the heel stirrup as in previousembodiments, and arms 32E, 34E project rearwardly from their respectivelegs and join to form a flexible rear cuff. In this embodiment, the arms32E, 34E and the legs 22E, 24E are all made as a single piece. Theheight of a central portion of the rear cuff has been substantiallyreduced to form a flexible web 60, which provides the desired structuralsupport and flexibility to the brace.

[0061] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modificationsmay be made to the preferred embodiments described herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ankle brace, comprising: a substantiallyU-shaped heel stirrup, including a bottom portion adapted to extendunder a wearer's foot and left and right upright portions adapted toextend upwardly along the left and right sides of a wearer's foot; leftand right pivot legs pivotably attached to said left and right uprightportions at left and right pivot points, respectively; left and rightarms projecting rearwardly from said left and right pivot legs,respectively, wherein said left and right arms are joined together toform a flexible rear cuff.
 2. An ankle brace, as recited in claim 1 ,wherein said left and right arms are pivotably connected to form saidflexible rear cuff.
 3. An ankle brace as recited in claim 2 , whereinsaid left and right arms are connected to each other at a pivot point.4. An ankle brace as recited in claim 2 , wherein said left and rightarms are connected through an intermediate cuff member that is connectedto said left and right arms at left and right cuff pivot points,respectively.
 5. An ankle brace as recited in claim 1 , wherein saidflexible rear cuff includes a first member defining at least oneelongated slot and a second member including at least one projectionreceived in said elongated slot.
 6. An ankle brace as recited in claim 5, wherein said first member defines a plurality of elongated slots, andthe width of said cuff is adjustable by selecting which of the elongatedslots receives said projection.
 7. An ankle brace as recited in claim 5, wherein said elongated slot is on one of said arms and said projectionis on the other of said arms.
 8. An ankle brace as recited in claim 5 ,wherein said cuff includes an intermediate cuff member connected to saidfirst and second arms.
 9. An ankle brace as recited in claim 5 , whereinsaid slot is slightly curved.
 10. An ankle brace, as recited in claim 1, wherein said flexible rear cuff is formed by said left and right armsbeing joined together in a unitary piece, having a central portion thatis substantially dimensionally smaller than the rest of said left andright arms so as to be substantially more flexible than the rest of saidleft and right arms.
 11. An ankle brace as recited in claim 1 , whereinthe left arm and the left pivot leg are formed as a single piece, andthe right arm and right pivot leg are formed as another single piece,and the left and right arms are at least as rigid as the left and rightpivot legs.
 12. An ankle brace as recited in claim 1 , and furthercomprising a strap mounted on at least one of said pivot legs forwrapping around the front of a wearer's leg.
 13. An ankle brace asrecited in claim 1 , and further comprising a forwardly-projectingtongue extending from the bottom portion of the heel stirrup, so as togive stability to the brace without interfering with the spreading ofthe wearer's foot.
 14. An ankle brace as recited in claim 13 , whereinsaid heel portion defines a rear edge, said left and right pivot pointsare located at least one inch forward of said rear edge, and said leftand right uprights extend at an angle from the rear edge to the pivotpoints to limit interference between the stirrup and a person's footwhile providing stability.
 15. An ankle brace as recited in claim 1 ,wherein said flexible rear cuff includes an intermediate cuff memberthat is more flexible than said first and second arms, said intermediatecuff member being secured to said first and second arms.
 16. An anklebrace, comprising: a substantially U-shaped heel stirrup, including abottom portion adapted to extend under a wearer's foot and left andright upright portions adapted to extend upwardly along the left andright sides of a wearer's foot; left and right pivot legs pivotablyattached to said left and right upright portions at left and right pivotpoints, respectively; left and right arms projecting rearwardly fromsaid left and right pivot legs, respectively, wherein said left andright arms are joined together to form a rear cuff; a firstoutwardly-projecting U-shaped post having top and bottom ends secured tosaid left arm and defining a first slot between said first post and saidleft arm; a second outwardly-projecting U-shaped post having top andbottom ends secured to said right arm and defining a second slot betweensaid second post and said right arm, said second post extendinggenerally parallel to said first post; a first fastener located on theouter surface of one of said arms forward of its respective post; and, aclosure strap having first and second ends and first and secondsurfaces, said first end having a second fastener which cooperates withsaid first fastener to secure said first end of said strap to said onearm, and said strap further including a securing means to secure thesecond end of said strap to an intermediate portion of said strap,wherein said strap is fed through said first slot and through saidsecond slot, and said second end of said strap folds back over and issecured onto itself at said intermediate portion.
 17. An ankle brace asrecited in claim 16 , wherein said first fastener is the hook side of ahook-and-loop type fastener, said second fastener is the loop side of ahook-and-loop type fastener, and said securing means is the hook side ofa hook-and-loop type fastener.
 18. An ankle brace as recited in claim 16, wherein said rear cuff is flexible.
 19. An ankle brace, comprising: aU-shaped heel stirrup, including a base and first and second uprightsprojecting upwardly from the base, wherein the base and uprights areformed as a unitary piece; first and second pivot legs pivotablyattached to said first and second uprights, respectively; a flexiblerear cuff extending rearwardly from and attached to the upper portion ofeach of said pivot legs; a first outwardly-projecting U-shaped postsecured to said first pivot leg and defining a slot between said firstpost and said first pivot leg; a second outwardly-projecting U-shapedpost secured to said second pivot leg and defining a slot between saidsecond post and said second pivot leg, said second post lying generallyparallel to said first post; a first fastening means located on theouter surface of said first pivot leg forward of said first post; and, aclosure strap having first and second ends and first and secondsurfaces, said first end having a second fastening means whichcooperates with said first fastening means to secure said first end ofsaid strap to said first pivot leg, and said second end of said straphaving third fastening means to secure said strap to itself, whereinsaid strap is fed through said first slot and through said second slot,and said second end folds back over onto itself.